Merchandise exhibitor



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. T. GULP.

MERCHANDISE EXHIBITOR.

Patented ug. 12, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL T. GULF, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CALVIN W. LITTLE, OF SAME PLACE.

MERCHANDISE-EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,415, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed March 13, 1890' Serial No. 343,786. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. CULP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Merchandise -Exhibitors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in show-stands designed to exhibit store merchandise in an attractive manner for advertising purposes; and it consists of a liquidcontaining reservoir, basin, or tank provided with suitable mechanism for propelling floats which rest upon the liquid and are adapted to support and carry the goods or merchandise. These floats may be of any desirable size which may be convenient for the merchant and permit him to arrange his goods thereon in a pleasing, attractive, and conspicuous manner, in order to display them to the best possible advantage.

The object therefore of my invention is to provide a device of the class stated, which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, attractive in appearance, reliable, durable, and elfective, and at the same time requiring but little power in its successful operation.

To these ends my invention consists of the features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the invention, in which drawings Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, partially in section. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view partially broken away of a modified form of the de vice. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the floats. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the floats having an attachment for guiding the same in any direction, as indicated by the slot formed in the top of the frame-work and illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 illustrates the connection between the rotating spindle and the propelling clock mechanism. Fig. 7 is a crosssection on the line a: m, Fig. 6.

A mechanism-similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is-described and claimed in my application for patent for improvement in showstands, filed March 13, 1890, Serial No. 343,785.

In the views, let the reference-numeral 1 indicate a suitable liquid-containing reservoir, basin, or tank, to the bottom of which are secured the upright tubes 24 24, &c.

The reference-numeral 2 designates an elevated central shell or casing supported by suitable stationary standards 46, having their base resting upon the bottom of the tank. This casing 2 consists of the top part 17 and the surrounding rim or flange 18, secured to part 17, and projecting downward therefrom nearly or quite to the level of the liquid in the tank, the surface of this liquid being indicated by the dotted line 35.

The reference-numeral 9 indicates a vertical rotating spindle connected with the propelling mechanism A beneath the tank and extending up through the bottom of the tank, and thence through tube 24. Tubes 24 sur round the spindles and protect them from contact with the liquid in the tank. To each disk 7, secured to the top of the spindle, as before stated, are rigidly secured the upper extremities of rods 23, which extend downwardly therefrom nearly to the bottom of the tank, where they are made fast to another ring or disk 8, surrounding tube 24. Rings 8 are provided with radial arms 5, provided with cams 6. v

Spindle 9 may be operated by an y suitable propelling mechanism, which, as shown in the drawings, consists of clock-Work A, operated either by a key 26 or by weights 31 32, of unequal gravity, secured to the extremities of a cord 29 30, passing over a pulley 41. 41, wound around a drum 28. A pin 36 of this clock-work is connected directly with a spin dle 9 at 40 by means of a joint, which is made bysecuring to the lower extremity of the spindle by means of a set-screw 51 a hollow cylindrical ferrule or tube 45, the lower extremity of which rests upon a suitable stationary base 52. Pin 36 enters an angularopening in the base of ferrule or tube 45, so that said pin and spindle rotate in unison. It will thus be seen that the spindle 9 is operated by the clock-work, and that the cam-shaped radial arms rotate with the spindle.

The reference-numeral 3 designates the floats, which are preferably hollow in structure and cylindrical in shape. These floats are each provided with a stem 4, rigidly secured to the center of the bottom and proj ecting downwardly therefrom. These floats are placed upon the liquid within tank 1, and when the device is setin operation the radial arms 5 engage the stands 4 and drive the floats along, as shown.

My improved device is designed to propel floats similar to that just described any desired distance, there being a set of radial arms and necessary propelling mechanism located at each oval turn D of the tank, and as many intermediate sets of these arms as may be necessary, the distance between any two sets of arms being so regulated that when a float is driven forward by any arm it will continue its'movement until its stem is engaged by another arm, and so on.

The diameter of the floats must be regulated with reference to the radial arms and the cams 6 formed thereon, so that only one stem 4 can be between any two radial arms of the same set at the same time. Otherwise the floats will clog at the ovals D, or the turning extremities of the tank, and stop the mechanism. This fact has been proved by experiment. The floats 3 may be guided while passing around the tank in any curve or direction desired by the use of the attachments shown in Figs. 3 and 5, which is constructed as follows: A platform 11 12 is arranged and secured above the water in the tank, said platform being provided with a slot 14 cut therein of any curve or contour desired, or that may suit the fancy. A pin 16 is secured to the top of the float of suiiicient length to extend through the slot and project above the platform. To the top of pin 16 is secured a disk 15, extending on both sides of the slot and preventing the pin from slipping out of its position therein.

In the operation of the device the liquid should be placed in the tank before the clockwork is wound up, or before the weights operating the same are secured to the cord wound around the drum. Otherwise the clock-work will rapidly run down, while if the liquid is placed in the tank the resistance offered to the movement of the arms by the liquid will cause them to rotate at the proper speed. In other words, the clock-work mechanism which gives the arms the proper speed when the liquid is in the tank would rotate the arms so rapidly without the resistance of the liquid that the mechanism would soon run down.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a merchandise-exhibitor, a liquid-containing reservoir or tank 1, having one or more uprighttubes 24 secured to the bottom thereof and centrally located therein,arotating spindle 9, connected with suitable propelling mechanism underneath the tank, said spindle extending up through the bottom of the tank and thence through tube 24, a ring or disk 7, secured to the top of the spindle above the top of the tube, rods 23, secured to disk 7 and projecting downward therefrom, a ring or disk 8, surrounding tube 24 and connected with th elower extremities of rods 23,and a plural number of radial arms 5, secured to ring 8 and rotating with the spindle, said arms moving in the liquid in the tank and forming the actuating mechanism of suitable floats supported by the liquid, substantially as described.

2. In a merchandise-exhibitor, the cylindrical floats 3, supported upon the liquid contained in a suitable tank, said floats being provided with downwardly-projecting stems a, and radial arms 5, operated underneath the surface of the liquid in the tank and adapted to engage stems at and drive the floats forward in the direction of the movement of the radial arms, substantially as described.

3. In a merchandise-exhibitor, aliquid-containing reservoir or tank having a platform ll 12, supported above the liquid in the tank and provided with a slot 14 of any desired contour, a cylindrical float 3, resting upon the liquid in the tank, said float being provided with a pin 15, extending up through the slot 14 in the platform, floats 3, with their attachments, being actuated by suitable propellingmechanism, substantiallyas described.

1. In a merchandise-exhibitor, a liquid-containing reservoir or tank, one or more sets of radial arms 5, provided with cams 6, said arms being suitably supported and actuated by suitable propelling mechanism, and floats resting upon the liquid and actuated by the cam-shaped radial arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL T. CULP.

\Vitnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, FRED. W. FELDWISOH. 

